Device to retain moisture in land



June 14, 1932. 0, B RECTOR 1,862,550

DEVICE TO RETAIN MOISTURE IN LAND Filed Feb. 9, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l WM/W am m Arrows/Iy.

June 1'4, 1932. o. B. RECTOR 1,862,550

DEVICE TQ REKTAIN MOISTURE IN LAND Filed Feb. 9, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheetl 2 @www Patented .lune 14, 1932 UNITED (JR-LAND BAZL RECTOR, OF EATON, COLORADO EVICE 'F.O RETAXN MGESTURE IN LAND Application filed February 9, 1931.

My invention relates to a device for retaining moisture in plowed or cultivated land.

l/Vhen land is plowed, the strip of earth turned over by the plow is rst bent to con-.

form to the curve of the mold board of the plow and is then rolled on over upon the previously turned strip of earth.

In this operation the moved earth is broken up to some extent and contains great numbers of cracks or fissures due to the bending and movement caused by the plow.

These cracks and fissures permit air to circulate through the earth that has been moved and there is also chance for circulation of air between each strip of earth and the previous strip upon which it has been rolled by the plow, since one broken strip of earth merely rests roughly upon another broken strip of earth.

The amount of air space in a plowed lield, whether due to cracks and fissures, breaking up of the soil or poor contact between adjoining earth strips, can be seen from the fact that the freshly plowed ground is generally higher than the adjoining un-plowed ground by an amount roughly equal to one third of the depth plowed.

The result is that the earth tends to dry out quickly, not only from the cracks and fissures and the general broken condition of each strip but from the more or less continuous air channel between adjacent strips.

ln some cases twenty four hours is enough to permit most of the moisture to be thus evaporated.

In dry territory where at best there is never too much moisture it is most important to retain in the earth as much of its moisture as is possible.

The object of my invention, therefore7 is to provide a process whereby the moisture may be retained in the plowed earth by a two layer seal of fine earth formed by harrowing as the land is being plowed.

A further object is to provide a device by which my process may be carried out, and the earth given a sealed two layer harrowingl as it is being plowed.

A further object is to provide such a har- Seral No. 514,585.

row which may be made to operate with any depth or width of furrow.

A further object is to provide such a harrow which, because of the construction can also be used to harrow both sides of hills, ridges, or rows, hereinafter referred to inerely as hills.

A further object is to provide such a harrow, which will automatically line up with the furrow or hill and will evenly and smoothly follow the furrow as plowed or the sloping sides of a hill without digging into or gouging into the earth and without need even being watched as it is dragged after the plow or the cultivator.

A further object is to provide a harrowA which may still be used on a hill after the crop is above the ground, when the need for a harrow is greatest.

A further object is to provide such a harrow which may be used on the sides of a hill to break up the crust formed on the surface of the ground after a rain, either before or after the crop is above the ground surface, and to destroy the weeds on the sides of the hill at any time.

A further object is to provide such a harrow which is adjustable not only for any depth or width of furrow, but also for hill angle, width of the row of plants in a hill, depth of the harrow teeth, and angle of harrow teeth along the direction of draft.

A further object is to provide such an adjustable harrow so constructed that the adjustments when made will remain as set.

A further object is to provide such a harrow of a cheap, practical construction, which will give satisfactory and trouble-proof service in the hands of the farmers.

My process consists in forming a substantially air tight layer of iine earth on the sloping face of each strip of earth just after it is turned by the plow and on the adjoining ground surface, to prevent the circulation of 95 air through the cracks and fissures of each strip and the resulting evaporation of moisture, and turning the next strip of earth upon this line earth formed on each strip which will tend to make a more continuous Contact 100 itl between adjacent earth strips, the layer of tine earth formed extending further than each new strip so as to also seal the contact of the new strip with the previous strip, at the ground surface.

Thus there is 'formed a line earth seal upon the surface of the ground, and a plurality of fine earth seals extending at an angle down into the ground upon the top of each strip of turned earth.

My device consists of a harrow of special construction which may be described as follows The harrow consists of a runner trame and two tooth frames mounted on the runner frame. The tooth frames carry tooth hars pivotally mounted and joined by connecting rods whereby the tooth bars may7 be rotated and set at any angle hy means of an adjustinnl arm and toothed are segment.

The tooth frames are adjustably mounted on the runner frame.

The runner frame is composed of cross arms pivotally and adjustably attached to U- shaped central yokes, the outer ends o the cross arms being adjustably mounted ou bottom runnerst with side runners adj ustably attached to the bottom runners, or to the cross arms. Both bottom and side runners are ground-contacting runners.

The U-shaped central yoles pass over the high part et e: ch turned strip or" earth and also permit trash or other loose material thrown up as each strip is turned, to pass through the harrow. The action of the harrow teeth tends to reduce the height of the high point ot each strip as turned, and upon the next passage of the harrow this high point is still further reduced.

The U-shaped yolres also permit the harrow to be used on hills after the crop is up.

All ot this will. he more fully described below and illustrated in the drawings, in which Figure l is a view showing my harrow as it would appear when following a plow, with the seals of line harrowed earth indicated.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of Figure l, as shown by the arrow.

Figure 8 shows my harrow as it would appear when used on a hill in which the crop is above the ground surface.

Figure l is an end view of my device shown in Figure 3, showing its adjustability for hill angle.

Figure 5 is a detail of the serrated washer adjustment lock.

Figure 6 is an enlarged section through one of the tooth bars.

Figure 'ff' is a detail showing a moditied n'iounting ot the side and bottom runners.

In Figure l it will be seen that the side runners 4-0 and the bottom runners 8 bear against the side and bottoni respectively of the turrow and hence position the harrow laterally and vertically, so that the harrow teeth will properly engage the sloping side of the turned earth strip A, as well as the level ground surface adjacent the sloping" surface, and so that the center or the yolres will substantially align with the high point of the earth strip.

Thus the sloping surface of the earth strip fr will be covered with harrowed or line earth which will close and seal all the cracks and fissures, andthe level "round surface will also be covered with line, narrowed earth which will close and seal the cracks and lissures of the level earth surface and which will also close and seal at the ground surface the Contact between the earth strip A and the earth strip B, as at D.

Should there be any openings left along the sub-surface contact C between the strips A and il the seal at l) will eliectually prevent air circulation therethrough, and hence prevent evaporation of the moisture.

The slots -ll et the side runners l() permit adjustment ot the side runners to lit fui-rows of different widths.

The side runners l0 are attached to the bottom runners 8 by the belts e2, nuts flo and serrated washers and l5, which are similar in construction to those shown at in Figure 5.

rhe bottoni runners 8 are attached to the cross arms :2 by the bolts nuts 237 and serrated washers BG. rllhe cross arms Q are attached to th yolies l hy the bolts 3, nuts 4 and serrated washers 5. rfhis assembly Yforms a hinged connection between the spaced ground-contacting runners.

rlhe yoles l permit the harrow to be used on a hill after the crop is above the ground surface, indicated in Figure 3. and when used behind a plow the yolres permit the trash from each strip and the high point ot the ridge to pass through the harrow, the high point being somewhat reduced in this passage by the action oit the ha rrow teeth.

The lockable pivotal attachments between the yoles l and the cross arms Q permit the harrow to he adjusted to the angle of the hill, as indicated in Figure 1l.

The lockable pivotal attachments between the arms 2 and the bottom runners 8 permit angular adjustment et the bottom runners 8 as indicated in Figure l to accomn'iodate for any change of the angle ci" the arms 2 with respect to the yolres l.

rEhe holes 8 in the bottom runners 8 and the holes 7 in the arms 2 permit ot adjustment of the position ot the hottom runners on the arms 2 and also permit adjustment ot the height of the runners. whereby the depth ot the ground-engaging teeth 3() in the `ground may adjusted.

The pivotal attaclunents of the side runners f-lO on the bottom runners 8 permit ot adjustment of the side runners to (zo-operate with the angle ol the arms 2 and of the bottom rfda CLS runners 8, and the slots 41 permit adjustment for the width of the furrow.

Thus it will be seen that the runner frame provides all the necessary adjustments whereby the harrow may be made to fit all conditions that may bc met with either when following in the furrow after a` plow, or when operating upon a hill after a culti vator.

Thus it will be seen that the transversely aligned members, including the yoke 1 and the arms 2 of the runner fra-me, form transverse hinged connecting means or intermediate connecting means for the runners.

lf desired the side and bottom runners may be attached at the same points on the arms 2, as shown in Figure 7. In any case the result is the same in that proper adjustment of both runners for position and angle is provided to suit any set of conditions.

V] hen the harrow is used upon av hill, the side runners 40 may be removed as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

rlhe arms 2 are rivets 6, to which provided with the U-shaped are attached in any proper manner', the draft chains 6.

The arms 2 are also provided with the adj ustment slots 9.

The tooth frames 10 are provided with the slots 11, and are mounted by the bolts 12, washers 13, and nuts 14 upon the arms 2, by the bolts 12 passing through the slots 11 of the tooth frames 10 and through the slots 9 of the arms 2.

The tooth bars 15 are pivotally mounted upon the frames 10 by the brackets 1%, which are held to the frames 10 by the bolts 16 and nuts 17.

The tooth bars are received slightly into the frames 10 by the notches 10.

The tooth bar arms 18 are bolted to the tooth bars by the bolts 19, washers 19 and nuts 20; the arms 18 and the pins 21 acting to preventv endwise movement of the tooth bars through the brackets 14.

The rear adjusting tooth bar arm 18 is provided with the handle 22, and its position is locked by the bolt 23 and wing nut 24. The bolt 23 passes through a slot in the arm 18 and through one of the notches of the arc segment 25, which is attached to the frame 10 by the bolts 26, washers and nuts.

The rear toothed bar arm 18 and the two arms 18 are connected together by the connecting rod 29 which is pivotally attached to all three arms.

The teeth 30 are of square section and at their upper ends are round and threaded to receive the nuts 31.

The teeth extend through the square holes 32 and their upper round ends extend through the round holes 33, the nuts 31 holding the shoulder solidly up against the inner surface of the tooth bar.

The serrated lock washers 5 are grooved to lit the yoke 1, cross arm 2 and bottom runner yokes to the angle Also, when the bottom runners 8 have been properly set on the arms or bars 2, and the adjusting bolts and nuts properly tightened, the bottom runners will remain as set, even after rough usage. Likewise, the side runners 40 will remain as set, because of the as-V sociated serrated lock washers.

It will now be seen that by my process not only are all the cracks and fissures at the ground surface of a field sealed by a seal of line harrowed earth, but the contact at the ground surface between adjoining strips of turned earth are also sealed, and that a double layer seal is provided by the plurality of line harrowed sub-surface earth seals betyveen each strip of earth and the adjoining s rip.

The fine earth seal on the ground surface may become baked or crusted and at a later date require further harrowing. But the subsurface seals not being in direct contact with either sunshine or rain will remain a permanent deterrent to the rapid evaporation of moisture from the earth below them.

lt will also be seen that my harrow may be adjusted not only to any desired depth or width of furrow by adjustment of the sidev runners 4Q and the bottom runners 8, but it may be adjusted to the hill angle at the bolts 3, for the width of the row of plants in the hill by the adjustment of the bolts 12, of the tooth frames 10 and movement of the tooth' frames along the arms 2 as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 3), for the depth of harrow teeth in the ground by adjustment of the runners 8 on the arms `2, and for angle of teeth along the direction of draft by the bolts 23 and wing nuts 24. l

The yokes 1 permit the high point of each earth strip as turned to pass through the harrow, while being partially reduced in height by the harrow teeth. The yokes also permit trash thrown up by the turning of the earth strip to pass through the harrow without catching and being dragged alongv by the frame or teeth. i

The yokes also permit the harrow to bei;

used after the crop is up above the ground surface; the runners make the harrow line up with the hill and run smoothly and evenly at all times without digging into or gouging into the ground, whether used in a furrow or" means providing a ground-contacting runners,

Having now described my process and device, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is as follows l. In a harrow, a runner frame having ground-contacting runners, arms attached to the runners adjacent their ends and Central means providing angular adjustment between the corresponding arms, tooth frames attached to the arms on opposite sides of said central means, and ground-engaging teeth carried by said tooth frames.

2. In a harrow, a runner :trame having ground-contacting longitudinally extending runners and transverse means joining the runners, tooth frame means separate from, attached to and carried by the runner trame, and a plurality of ground-engaging teeth carried by said tooth frame means.

3. In a harrow, a runner rame having ground-contacting, longitudinally extending runners, a cross arm attached adjacent each end of each runner and having a lockable angularly adjustable connection therewith,

lockable angularly adjustable connection between corresponding cross arms, and a toothed frame mounted upon the arms carried by each runner.

4. In a harrow, a runner frame having ground-contacting, longitudinally extending runners, a cross arm attached adjacent each end of each runner and having a lockable angularly adjustable connection therewith, upwardly extending U- haped yokes co-acting with each pair of aligned cross arms, means forming lockable angularly adjustable connections between the yokes and thecorresponding ends of the cross arms, a toothed frame co-acting with the arms carried by each runner, and means providing a transversely adjustable mounting of the toothed frames on the corresponding cross arms.

5. In a harrow, a runner frame having ground contacting runners and transverse hinged connecting means forming a runner mounted frame unit, and toothed frame means transversely adjustable upon said con-A necting means of the said unit.

6. In a barrow, a runner frame having y and transverse hinged connecting means provided with central, upwardly extending U-shaped yoke means forming a runner mounted trame unit,

` and toothed frame means carried by said connecting means ot said unit on each side of said yoke means and transversely adjustable with respect thereto. Y

7. In a harrow, arunner frame having ground-contacting runners and transverse hinged connecting means, toothed frame means transversely adjustable upon said connecting means, tooth bar means pivotally mounted on said toothed frame means,

ground-engaging teeth carried by said tooth bar means and means carried by the toothed frame means and connecting the tooth bar means of each tooth trame means to control the angular position of the tooth bar means and the said teeth.

8. In a harrow, a runner trame having ground-contacting runners, cross arms, means providing lockable adjustable connections between the runners and the cross arms whereby the angular relations of runners and cross arms may be adjusted, inverted U- shaped yokes, means providing lockable adjustable connections between the yokes and the corresponding cross arms, toothed frames, means providing transversely adjustable mounting of each toothed frame upon the corresponding cross arms, ground-engaging harrow teeth, and means adjustably mounting said teeth upon said toothed trames whereby their angular position may be adjusted in a longitudinal direction.

9. In a harrow, ground-contacting runners, frame means joining the runners and provided with angle adjusting lockable intern'iediate hinge means, ground-engaging teeth carried by the trame means, and means to adjust the angle of the teeth in the direction of draft.

l0. In a harrow, ground-contacting runners, trame means provided with angle adjusting lockable intermediate hinge means, means providing angle adjusting lockable connections between the frame means and the runners, tooth frames, means mounting the tooth frames on the frame means and providing transverse adjustment between them, ground-engaging teeth carried by the tooth frames, and means to adjust the angle of the teeth in the direction oi draft.

ll. In a harrow, a runner 'trame provided with ground-contacting runners, cross arms and transversely aligned members, tooth frame means separate from, attached to, and carried by the runner trame, and means, including locking means providing lockable connections between the runners and the runner frame cross arms and between transversely aligned members of the runner frame permitting adjustment of the angular relations of the parts adjacent said lockable connections.

In testimony whereof I a'liix my signature.

ORLAND BAZIL RECTOR.

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